Chapter 289 : Chakra and Natural Energy!!

Kazuhiko took out the mice from their cage again, carefully examining each one. To get a closer look, he activated his Rinnegan.

Kazuhiko was open about his Rinnegan with Tsunade and Sage Katsuyu. After days of keeping it under wraps, he decided there was no need to hide it from them. 

Tsunade found it fascinating, considering it a unique dojutsu in the ninja world, but she didn't probe further.

Katsuyu, however, was visibly shocked. She knew what the Rinnegan represented, its legendary status, and its history. 

But despite her extensive knowledge, she didn't press Kazuhiko for answers. Her reaction showed her wisdom; she understood when to speak and when to stay silent.

So there they were, with Tsunade knowing little but not asking much, and Katsuyu knowing too much but choosing not to pry. It was quite the arrangement, and Kazuhiko appreciated it.

Kazuhiko examined the dead mice to determine the cause of their deaths. He concluded they had died due to chakra depletion. Despite having saline and other food for energy, the complete loss of chakra had led to their demise in the cage.

The remaining mice, those injected with saline containing natural energy, were in various states of health. Though they hadn't died, they seemed weakened, with shaky limbs and dull expressions, as if on the verge of collapse.

As Kazuhiko and Tsunade observed the surviving mice, one of them died. Kazuhiko marked the dead mouse, setting it aside for further examination. He then turned to the small slug on his shoulder.

"Slug, have these mice stayed in the cage without any disturbances?" he asked.

The little slug lifted its tiny white antennae. "Yes, Kazuhiko-sama. My clone has been watching them since you left. There's been no interference."

"Good," Kazuhiko replied, satisfied. He turned his attention back to the mice, contemplating the results.

The earlier hypothesis was confirmed: when chakra was entirely drained from a living creature, it would die. On the other hand, those injected with natural energy had survived, albeit in a weakened state. 

This suggested that natural energy could indeed substitute for chakra, at least to some extent.

It is said that mice that lose their Chakra tend to die because their natural energy reserves are depleted. 

However, Kazuhiko found that injecting some mice with saline containing natural energy led to mixed results—some mice remained lively, while others became lethargic and even died after two days.

Kazuhiko knew for certain there were no external interferences affecting the mice; the experiment setup and materials were consistent, and all the mice were healthy. Yet, the results varied. Why was this happening?

Kazuhiko pondered the issue while observing the mice that had been injected with natural energy saline but were now lethargic. 

Using his Rinnegan, he could see they were in good health—no signs of weakened Chakra. Instead, they exhibited a strange sluggishness that he couldn't quite explain.

As he was deep in thought, Tsunade, who had been observing the mice as well, remarked, "Why does this little white mouse look like it's... full?" Her words hit Kazuhiko like a lightning bolt.

"Full! That's it!" Kazuhiko realized that this odd lethargy wasn't due to weakness, but rather because the mice were overstuffed with natural energy.

"You're a genius!" Kazuhiko's eyes lit up with excitement as he glanced at Tsunade, wishing he could embrace her right then and there. 

However, he held back, focusing on the experiment. Tsunade, meanwhile, was left staring at him with a puzzled expression.

He then examined the other mice. Two were active and showing no signs of sluggishness—in fact, they seemed to have grown in size, looking bulkier and more aggressive.

Kazuhiko noticed these two mice were far stronger than usual, a sign that the surplus of natural energy was amplifying their physical capabilities.

When Kazuhiko began his experiment, the mice he selected were similar in size and condition. Now, however, these two stood out—they were faster, stronger, and had a heightened awareness of their surroundings.

In the box filled with mice, these two kept escaping from the cage. Kazuhiko examined the mice in the cage, all of which had been injected with saline infused with natural energy. 

The results, however, varied widely. Some of the once-energetic mice had become lethargic, weakened, and seemed on the verge of death.

In contrast, a few white mice were bouncing around energetically. Kazuhiko reached in and grabbed one of the energetic mice, noting that its body was full of strength and had explosive power that far exceeded that of the other normal mice.

Though he couldn't guarantee that this change would be permanent, it was certainly a promising development. 

This particular mouse had abundant life energy, showing no signs of weakening or energy drain. Its life force was strong, and its body contained a lot of energy.

Of course, this was all in comparison to the other guinea pigs...

Kazuhiko felt he'd learned a lot from this experiment, and he had a new direction for Land of Red's rapid enhancement methods.